At Staten Island Technical High School, Borough President James Oddo kicks off the "Sodabriety Challenge" in four Staten Island high schools. The initiative is designed to decrease the amount of sugar sweetened beverages consumed in schools. Staten Island Technical High School, St. John Villa Academy, Staten Island Academy, and Susan E. Wagner High School have each signed on to participate in the program, which begins November 17th. (Staten Island Advance/Kathryn Carse)

At Staten Island Technical High School, Borough President James Oddo kicks off the "Sodabriety Challenge" in four Staten Island high schools. The initiative is designed to decrease the amount of sugar sweetened beverages consumed in schools. Staten Island Technical High School, St. John Villa Academy, Staten Island Academy, and Susan E. Wagner High School have each signed on to participate in the program, which begins November 17th.

At Staten Island Technical High School, Borough President James Oddo kicks off the "Sodabriety Challenge" in four Staten Island high schools. The initiative is designed to decrease the amount of sugar sweetened beverages consumed in schools. Staten Island Technical High School, St. John Villa Academy, Staten Island Academy, and Susan E. Wagner High School have each signed on to participate in the program, which begins November 17th. (Staten Island Advance/Kathryn Carse)

Staten Island Academy students Yvonne Boulay '17 and Danielle Wiseman '15, members of the school's Sodabriety Challenge advisory council, with Allison Cohen, deputy communications director with Borough Hall and an alum of the school, at the launch of the Sodabriety Challenge.

Channeling a 1970s Joe Namath with his Movember mustache, Borough President James Oddo kicks off the "Sodabriety Challenge" in four Staten Island high schools. The initiative is designed to decrease the amount of sugar sweetened beverages consumed in schools. Staten Island Technical High School, St. John Villa Academy, Staten Island Academy, and Susan E. Wagner High School have each signed on to participate in the program, which begins November 17th. (Staten Island Advance/

Dr. Ginny Mantello, borough director of wellness, explains the method for the Sodabriety Challenge, based on a study at Ohio State University. (Staten Island Advance/Kathryn Carse)

"A lot of people see calories as more of a problem with sugar, not how poorly it effects the body," said Signe Swanson, a senior at Staten Island Technical High School. (Staten Island Advance/Kathryn Carse)

Students from Staten Island Tech's Sodabriety Challenge advisory council gather around a chart showing how many teaspoons of sugar are in common drinks, one of the educational tools of the campaign. Back row: Clare Mitchell, Sam Sherman, Chelsea Chang; front row: Nicole Kazakevich, Mike Csorba, Signe Swanson, and health teacher Mike Granite. (Staten Island Advance/Katrhyn Carse)

"Sugar is the number one public enemy in the fight to maintain health and wellness," said Oddo at gathering students from Staten Island Technical High School, St. John Villa Academy, Staten Island Academy and Susan E. Wagner High School.

During the 30-day challenge, participants will drink only sugarless drinks such as water and unsweetened tea.

Each school created a Challenge Advisory Council with 10 students and two teachers who conducted a campaign to recruit participants in the Sodabriety Challenge.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 17, they will keep a log of their sugar consumption. The data will be compiled by Borough Hall with the potential to expand the program with the Department of Health.

"When I spoke to students, everyone knew sugar makes you tired and overweight. But when I made them guess how much sugar was in a drink, like Snapple, they would say six or seven teaspoons. When I told them 14, they were just shocked," said Nicole Kazakevich, a senior at Tech. "The most effective thing was showing the chart of how many teaspoons [of sugar] is in each drink."

"Poor habits will stick with you. It is harder to alter your everyday routine when you get older," she added, making the argument for teens to make healthy lifestyle changes.

The Sodabriety Challenge is based on a study by Ohio State University, explained Dr. Ginny Mantello, borough wellness director. One of the important things researchers found it "peer-to-peer communication is more effective way to deliver the message than adults lecturing."

"I am very impressed with what I am hearing and I represent 7,000 teachers. Why not have them participate, too? They are role models for the students," said Debra Penny, borough representative of the United Federation of Teachers.

At Staten Island Tech data is being collected not only from students, but also staff and parents for their own in-house study.

"The kids are very passionate about the subject and they are very motivated," said Matt Granite, Tech's health and physical education teacher advising its council.

And one of the students was able to report the power of peer-to-peer influence.

Clare Mitchell, a junior on Tech's basketball team, stopped drinking the sweet stuff in April and lost seven pounds.

"The whole team noticed, not just the weight loss, but I was able to move better, jump better and my energy level improved," said Clare. She thought it was making them aware of how drinking soda was affecting their performance.